Magic pill
When students decline the offer produce a headache or vitamin pill, suggest that it makes you more intelligent, and will help you pass exams etc.
Explain that they have been offered substances and have had to make a decision without knowing the facts - they did not know what was in the glass or what it would do to them. Making a decision without the facts can be very dangerous. Buying and taking drugs is an example of this.
2) Main activity
Students working in groups answer a quiz sheet on drugs. In doing so they can try out the various sources of information and evaluate these for themselves.
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For a quick lesson print the quiz-sheet and the four web pages linked at the top left of this page.
- If internet access is available this lesson will work very well as these and many other resources are available online
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If you are preparing the lesson sufficiently well in advance the fact search can be based on leaflets/pamphlets available from the source in teachers background
Answers - print quiz from links at top
1 - Depression, dehydration
2 - Class A
3 - Halved
4 - 10%
5 - Heroin stops cracks' paranoia
6 - Legs, stomach
7 - 11 years old
8 - Alert, emotional, effects last 3 hours
9 - Only by using a laboratory
3) Extension activity
Produce a poster that will go up in school. It will advertise sources of advice on drugs to other students.
4) Plenary
It's hard to make any decision without facts. A decision that could affect the health of your mind or body must be well informed.
Teachers' Background
- Children as young as 11 were targeted in the poster campaign, which appeared in pubs, bars and clubs
- Already about 220,000 youngsters take Class A drugs like ecstasy and cocaine
- Health Minister Hazel Blears said: "Children must have access to all the information and support they need in order to live healthy lifestyles and to avoid the tragedy of drug misuse"
- Mark McLean, from the National Drugs Helpline, said there could be around a quarter of a million young people thinking about taking Class A drugs over the New Year
- Last year the advice line received 275,000 inquiries from callers with an average age of 16
- Home Office Minister Bob Ainsworth said: "Drug-related deaths make the headlines, but what many young people do not know about are the less dramatic side-effects of taking Class A drugs
- These can include long-term medical problems such as panic attacks, paranoia, depression, sleeplessness and heart problems
- Many young people get their information about illegal drugs from their friends, from drug dealers or from urban myths
- The campaign advises youngsters to call the National Drugs Helpline, on 0800 776600, for reliable information about the dangers of drugs
Drugs quiz-sheet
Vote on Drugs advice
Check your answers online
